The Macon Miracle:Connecting Strengths, Reinventing Education, Helping Children Flourish

Presented By:Dr. Romain Dallemand, Susanne Griffin-Ziebart, Dr. Judy Godfrey, Kathy Becker, and Jim Pulliam

Where is Macon/Bibb County?

County and District Demographics

• 155,000 people in the County (2010 Census)• 43% white• 51% African-American • 6% Other

• Student Population• 21% white• 79% African-American

and Other

The Macon Miracle: Why is Transformation Urgent?

• Approximately 25,000 students• Rated 174th out of 179 Georgia

districts• Has 10 of the 78 lowest

performing schools• 51% graduation rate• 9,441 students suspended –

48,000 days of missed instruction• 703 students dropped out• 493 students expelled

The Macon Miracle: Why is Transformation Urgent?

• 20,000 students are receiving services from D.F.C.S.

• 632 students are documented as homeless students

• 1,000 students are living with someone who is not a biological parent

• 1,111 students have at least one parent incarcerated

• 78% of students receive free or reduce priced lunch

• 1,100 students arrested from August 2011 – March 15, 2012

Why Appreciative Inquiry?• Recognized the challenge

of increasing the “probability” of “buy-in”• Recognized the need to

include more than the “traditional” voices in the creation of the plan• Wanted to ensure that

employees and key stakeholders played an active role in creating the plan

Why Appreciative Inquiry?• Involves everyone in the

process• Creates “space” for

people to envision possibilities rather than barriers

• Develops a sense of unity by bringing everyone in the same room and creating a shared experience

• Ensures equitable access to information

The Macon Miracle: Bibb County’s Planning Process

• Two days to complete what was typically done in four days (i.e., Dream, Discovery, Design and Destiny)• All employees, parents,

community members, business partners and state and local dignitaries participated (i.e., approximately 4500 people)

The Macon Miracle: Bibb County’s Planning Process

• Dedicated time during the work day for all employees to participate• Held at the Macon

Centreplex Arena• Co-facilitated by the

Center for Appreciative Inquiry and educators from Bibb County

Opportunities of Facilitation

Engaging the Core Team• Core Team Participants• Represented all employee groups• 60 members

• Core Team Involvement• Champions of the process• Planned, designed the process• Selected topics for interviews• Facilitated groups in the

interviews• Assisted with data collection

• Thoughts of Core Team Members

Data Collection Strategy

• SUMMIT ONE• Positive Core & Headlines

captured from each circle group• Strategic Plan Themes

Developed

• SUMMIT TWO• Employees surveyed to identify

energy for each theme • Initiatives for each Theme

emerged

What Were the Summit Outcomes?

• Participants in the Summits created: • 6 Focus Areas • 22 Goals

• Strategic Plan• District Management

Plan• Research-based

initiatives• Innovative initiatives

Key Initiatives

• Year-round school • Instruction in

Mandarin Chinese for all students beginning in kindergarten• System-wide portfolio

schools of choice

Key Initiatives• Proficiency for all

students in numeracy and literacy by third grade• Students earn up to 30

college credits by graduation• Change the culture of

schools through system-wide, strategic professional learning

Key Initiatives• Integrate 21st Century

teaching tools in the classroom and in the home• District Welcome Center

to provide information and training to parents• Gifted instruction,

Advanced Placement classes, and Honors classes for all students

Key Initiatives

• Students initiate a portfolio they will continue to develop through high school• Dormitories for

students experiencing unanticipated circumstances

Lessons Learned• Including all stakeholders is powerful• Clear expectations and training and supportive

scripts are important to ensure the message and experience is consistent• Dedicating 4 full days to the process would have

been valuable

Lessons Learned• The Core Team plays a critical role—selection and

training is key• Initiate the Strategic Planning process AFTER you

have leaders in place to lead the work• Using existing leaders meant that “old” mindsets could

interfere with the work

Lessons Learned• For large scale summits, develop a plan that

ensures everyone hears the work of other groups• Be prepared to address the fact that not everyone

will agree with everything (yet)• Be prepared to address the fact that some will be

against the plan for various reasons

Bibb County’s Successes

• The process and the inquiry created hope and enthusiasm• The effort resulted in

a comprehensive, research-based innovative plan that was approved by the School Board

Bibb County’s Successes

• The inquiry created broad-based engagement in the conversation about education• The inquiry engaged

individuals not previously included• The inquiry

engendered support

Bibb County’s Opportunities• Engage and maintain

“buy-in”• Build equity so all

students excel—create unified support• Change the culture of

the organization and community• Help people to focus

their energy in a positive way

Bibb County’s Next Steps

• Strong implementation• Communication• Building understanding of strategies• Build understanding of each individual’s

unique role

• Impact of Initiatives on students and staff• Communicate expected outcomes of each

initiative• Build understanding of requirements from

students and parents

Bibb County’s Next Steps

• Create and celebrate quick wins• Continue to

support the strong guiding coalition

Why was this inquiry so powerful?

Questions?

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